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Thursday, June 27, 2013

Yesterday the Supreme Court handed down a decision that I don't claim to understand all the nuances of, but the bottom line is that same-sex partners will have the opportunity to share benefits from the federal government the same way heterosexual married couples do.

If you ask me, that sounds a little bit like justice.

There's an old church story about what happens when good, church-going folk only surround themselves with other good, church-going folk. We all get in a circle, shining our lights for Jesus into the middle of the huddle, and the only thing the world sees is our backsides.

I met up with a new friend the other day, someone I was just getting to know. She told me that she was happy to visit, but needed me to understand that she didn't agree with how I was living my life.

"As a matter of fact," she told me, "I don't believe that you are living right at all. None of the other playground moms do. But we still want you to hang out with us. I mean, we love you. We just don't agree with your choices."

Before you start trolling my Facebook to see who I've been hanging with, let me put you out of your misery and tell you that I made that up.

But, it is, unfortunately, the way many of us live out the mandate to love our neighbors. We let them know up front that although we don't approve of them, it's nothing personal. Hate the sin, love the sinner mentality.

What if your neighbors didn't look, think, or act like you? What if your neighbors were flying a rainbow flag off their porch and hugging in the driveway? Could you love them like Jesus would?

Can you celebrate with those who are celebrating today? I think that if Jesus were invited to a pride party, He would go. He might even bring the chips. I don't think that He would stand by holding a sign saying "God hates fags" or have a DOMA pin as his profile pic on FB.

The word gospel means good news. Jesus came with a message of hope and a promise of eternity and that is the message we are called to share. He will do the rest. If we are so busy telling everybody what they are doing wrong, using the Name of God as our excuse to do so, why should they listen to the rest of the message?

Jesus Christ is a life-changer, and His tools are not guilt, fear, or anger. He changes lives through love. And if we are so busy shining on our lights on each other, how is the rest of the world going to find out about Him? They are supposed to see Him through us. We are supposed to be the aroma of Christ to a world in need. And I have to say, that, frankly, we're a stinky bunch a good lot of the time.

Tuesday, June 25, 2013

According to Henry Blackaby, I am having a crisis of belief. A crisis does not necessarily mean a calamity or a disaster. It means a place of having to make a decision. A crisis of belief leads one to decide if God is who He is and if we are going to believe Him. It's a crossroads.

I think about Noah, told to be an ark for an event the world had never seen: rain. As he was gathering supplies, did he have a running conversation with himself about whether or not this ark would be necessary. Or did he just keep going, his eyes set on the word of the Lord as it came to him?

The resolution of a crisis of belief leads one to faith and action. And, also according to Blackaby, I can't stay where I am and go where God wants me to go. Obedience is key.

I've had the galley proofs for my book sitting in my computer for 2 1/2 weeks as I go through the final read of those. I have to eventually sign off on them, stating that there will be no further revisions necessary without paying a bijillion dollars.

And that, kids, is where I am apparently having a crisis of belief. Or anxiety attack.

I never knew this process would be so hard. I wish I had a more creative word for you...daunting, overwhelming, something...but hard is where it's at.

So let's look to the evidence of moving forward...faith and action.

Not faith in myself, but faith in God. And not faith in God to make me a million bucks, but faith in God to use this work for His glory. Since I KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that He has called me to this, I need to keep focus there. Francesca Battistelli said it almost as well as Isaiah when she sang "When I fix my eyes on all that you are, all my doubts grow strangely dim." Or the Isaiah version, 26:3 "You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast on You."

Action...butt-in-chair time. Get it done for the last time and hit send. No excuses.

We keep hearing this message...obedience costs. And I'm digging in the pockets of my jeans looking for loose change to cover it, when the One who is POWER alone is standing in front of me saying "Why do you think this is all up to you?"

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Sometimes when I look at the clock and see a time, a scripture pops into my head. 8:28...We know that all things work together for good, for those who love God and are called according to His purpose.

Or when I hear a phone number...I had a friend whose last four numbers were 4610 and I would think of the verse in Psalms: Be still and know that I am God.

I'm not a good sleeper lately, so 3:16 is a friend of mine. There are a few verses that go with that, so instead of counting sheep, I'm meditating on the Word, which brings me peace, if not some zzzz's eventually.

Lately I seem to catch the time at 6:33: Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and all other things will be added unto you.

Yesterday morning, I had my phone in one hand and was reaching for my Bible with the other. I thought I might peek at Facebook and see what the rest of the world was up to before doing my reading. I glanced up at the clock to see how long I might have before my kids woke up.

Yup. Sure enough. 6:33. I put the phone down and headed for the Kingdom before the world.

See if you can't find some verses that correlate to numbers you come across as you go about your day. You might find yourself bringing scriptures to mind when you least expect it. And that, my friends, is never a bad thing.

I'm a wife, mom, and grandma with a passion to reach the world around me, to bring hope to those who need it. Following that call leads to some interesting adventures. I love to encourage others to follow hard after God, whatever that looks like for them. Come hang out with me on the blog...perfection and pretense not required. We'll figure this thing out together.
If you are looking for a speaker, check out my bio/topics page.

My son and I stared through the window in the oven door, waiting for the timer to go off. Finally, at the sound of the buzz, I opened the do...

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I don't promise to always have all the answers, and I don't promise to always be right, but I do promise to always be real. Share in my journey to become the woman my Savior had in mind for me to be. It's not always pretty, but it is always beautiful.